# NTSB CEN11LA513: Cessna A188B, N9234R, Mount Hamill, IA, July 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2011, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Mount Hamill, IA - Coordinates: 40.7, -91.566665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7000&lon=-91.5667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA513 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81243/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81243 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA513 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot's inadequate fuel management. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during an aerial application operation. The pilot then performed a forced landing on an adjacent field. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. However, examination revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank was almost half full, consistent with the pilot’s mismanagement of his fuel supply during the operation. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2011, about 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N9234R, experienced a total loss of engine power while maneuvering over a field near Mount Hamill, Iowa. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing to a field. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The airplane was registered to and operated by Air Advantage Inc under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that departed from Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MPZ), Mount Pleasant, Iowa, about 0840. The pilot stated that he was lining up the airplane for the last spray pass of a corn field when he noticed that everything was getting quiet and the controls were less responsive. He looked and the gauges and noticed the airspeed and fuel pressure were low. He then turned to fly away from the corn field and turned on the emergency boost pump. He then performed a forced landing to a soybean field located south of the corn field. During the landing, the left wing struck the ground upon touchdown which was then followed by the right wing contacting the ground. The airplane then nosed over and skidded on its nose until it came to rest on its landing gear. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank was almost 1/2 full. The inspector stated that the make and model of airplane does not have a fuel system check valve to prevent fuel migration from the opposite wing tank and/or header tank during turns. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9234R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9234R), registered now, S/N 18802173T, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802173T - Airframe hours: 8362 - Engines: Continental O-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Air Advantage Inc - Registered owner: Air Advantage Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2011 - Departed: MPZ, Mount Pleasant, IA - Destination: MPZ, Mount Pleasant, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 1,900 total, 850 in this make and model, 1,749 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 108 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BRL, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110723014139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110723014139A), Jul 23, 2011: Cessna A188B, Mt. Hamil, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he set up for the last run on his current load of chemical. He stated that he noticed the aircraft seemed too quiet. Once he confirmed… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81243. 893 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372750&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.